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Three-dimensional (3D) printing has evolved massively during the last years. The 3D printing technologies offer various advantages, including: i) tailor-made design, ii) rapid prototyping, and iii) manufacturing of complex structures. Importantly, 3D printing is currently finding its potential in tissue engineering, wound dressings, tissue models for drug testing, prosthesis, and biosensors, to name a few. One important factor is the optimized composition of inks that can facilitate the deposition of cells, fabrication of vascularized tissue and the structuring of complex constructs that are similar to functional organs. Biocomposite inks can include synthetic and natural polymers, such as poly (ε-caprolactone), polylactic acid, collagen, hyaluronic acid, alginate, nanocellulose, and may be complemented with cross-linkers to stabilize the constructs and with bioactive molecules to add functionality. Inks that contain living cells are referred to as bioinks and the process as 3D bioprinting. Some of the key aspects of the formulation of bioinks are, e.g., the tailoring of mechanical properties, biocompatibility and the rheological behavior of the ink which may affect the cell viability, proliferation, and cell differentiation.The current Special Issue emphasizes the bio-technological engineering of novel biocomposite inks for various 3D printing technologies, also considering important aspects in the production and use of bioinks.

Information technology industries --- bacteria biofabrication --- 3D printing --- tissue engineering --- probiotic food --- pine sawdust --- soda ethanol pulping --- nanocellulose --- cytotoxicity --- absorption --- wound dressings --- bioprinting --- cellulose --- hydrogel --- physical cross-linking --- 3D bioprinting --- biocomposite ink --- tubular tissue --- tubular organ --- bacterial nanocellulose --- cellulose nanofibrils --- cellulose nanocrystals --- bioink --- collagen --- ECM --- extracellular matrix --- bioinks --- biomanufacturing --- biocomposite --- forest-based MFC --- fibrils --- additive manufacturing --- artificial limb --- fused deposition modeling (FDM) --- biofabrication --- hydrogels --- growth factor cocktail --- bioactive scaffold --- printability --- carboxylated agarose --- free-standing --- human nasal chondrocytes --- clinical translational --- polyhydroxyalkanoates --- scaffolds --- biomedicine --- drug delivery --- vessel stenting --- cancer --- 3D cell culture --- CNF --- cancer stemness --- n/a

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This Special Issue aims to highlight the dual potential of novel biocatalytic processes, where the first part is dedicated to waste valorization for the production of high value products, while the second part is focused on the detoxification of pollutants. Several examples of microbial systems employed for the valorization of waste streams derived by the forest, agricultural, and food industries or the use of whole-cell or enzyme approaches for the removal of nitrogen or dyes from industrial wastewaters are provided. Last but not least, an example of the utilization of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) was highlighted for the production of fatty acids, which were used for the enzymatic synthesis of sugar esters with antimicrobial properties.

Technology: general issues --- mixotrophic --- heterotrophic --- lipids --- fatty acid methyl esters --- dairy wastewater --- birch hydrolysate --- green algae --- Coelastrella --- Chlorella --- DyP peroxidase --- oxidoreductase --- reactive dye --- decolorization --- biopolymers --- medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) --- hydrolysed waste cooking oil --- Pseudomonas putida KT2440 --- biocatalysis --- bioprocess --- polyhydroxyalkanoate --- (R)-3-hydroxyacids --- sugar esters --- antimicrobial --- anammox --- immobilization --- wastewater treatment --- polyvinyl alcohol --- olive mill waste --- lignocellulosic residues --- Ganoderma lucidum --- Pleurotus ostreatus --- medicinal mushrooms --- glucan --- prebiotic --- Lactobacillus --- Bifidobacterium --- waste valorization --- laccase --- genome-mining --- heterologous expression --- Pseudomonas --- non-digestible oligosaccharides --- Celluclast® --- cellobiose --- conduritol-B-epoxide --- lignocellulose enzyme hydrolysis --- n/a

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Nowadays, we are witnessing highly dynamic research activities related to the intriguing field of biodegradable materials with plastic-like properties. These activities are stimulated by the strengthened public awareness of prevailing ecological issues connected to growing piles of plastic waste and increasing greenhouse gas emissions; this goes hand-in-hand with the ongoing depletion of fossil feedstocks, which are traditionally used to produce full carbon backbone polymers. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolyesters, a family of plastic-like materials with versatile material properties, are increasing considered to be a future-oriented solution for diminishing these concerns. PHA production is based on renewable resources and occurs in a bio-mediated fashion through the action of living organisms. If accomplished in an optimized way, PHA production and the entire PHA lifecycle are embedded into nature´s closed cycles of carbon. Sustainable and efficient PHA production requires understanding and improvement of all the individual process steps. Holistic improvement of PHA production, applicable on an industrially relevant scale, calls for, inter alia, consolidated knowledge about the enzymatic and genetic particularities of PHA-accumulating organisms, an in-depth understanding of the kinetics of the bioprocess, the selection of appropriate inexpensive fermentation feedstocks, tailoring of PHA composition at the level of its monomeric constituents, optimized biotechnological engineering, and novel strategies for PHA recovery from biomass characterized by low energy and chemical requirements. This Special Issue represents a comprehensive compilation of articles in which these individual aspects have been addressed by globally recognized experts.

Cupriavidus necator --- alginate --- tissue engineering --- PAT --- simulation --- terpolyester --- high cell density cultivation --- process simulation --- selective laser sintering --- gaseous substrates --- microaerophilic --- in-line monitoring --- Pseudomonas sp. --- additive manufacturing --- fed-batch --- terpolymer --- on-line --- bubble column bioreactor --- biopolymer --- fused deposition modeling --- biomaterials --- polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) --- Pseudomonas putida --- fed-batch fermentation --- blends --- upstream processing --- wound healing --- activated charcoal --- downstream processing --- Archaea --- polyhydroxyalkanoates processing --- film --- bioreactor --- medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA) --- poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) --- Ralstonia eutropha --- hydrolysate detoxification --- extremophiles --- Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) --- process analytical technologies --- PHA composition --- COMSOL --- non-Newtonian fluid --- tequila bagasse --- biopolyester --- biosurfactants --- Haloferax --- PHA --- phenolic compounds --- polyhydroxybutyrate --- PHB --- in-line --- Pseudomonas --- haloarchaea --- plant oil --- PHA processing --- bioeconomy --- delivery system --- P(3HB-co-3HV-co-4HB) --- productivity --- electrospinning --- cyanobacteria --- waste streams --- polyhydroxyalkanoates --- oxygen transfer --- polyhydroxyalkanoate --- biomedical application --- photon density wave spectroscopy --- carbon dioxide --- salinity --- PDW --- rheology --- halophiles --- feedstocks --- high-cell-density fed-batch --- biomedicine --- process engineering --- bioprocess design --- viscosity --- computer-aided wet-spinning --- microorganism --- Cupriavidus malaysiensis --- poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHVB)

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The aim of this reprint is to highlight the progress and fundamental aspects for the synthesis, characterization, properties, and application of novel polymeric materials, as well as their copolymers, composites, and nanocomposites.

Plastics & polymers technology --- poly(lactic acid) --- epoxidized natural rubber --- polymer blend --- natural additives --- antioxidant --- polymer blending --- radiation crosslinking --- polyethylene --- polyurethane --- heat resistance --- mechanical property --- aramid fiber --- ballistic test --- failure mechanism --- cyclotriphosphazane --- flame retardancy --- dielectric properties --- azo compound --- liquid crystal --- structure–property relationship --- axial behavior --- geopolymer concrete (GC) --- ferrocement --- finite element analysis (FEA) --- polyacrylonitrile --- lignin --- electrospinning --- selective chemical dissolution --- porous nanofibers --- nanofibers --- soft template --- peat soil --- cement --- stabilization --- fly ash --- polypropylene fiber --- unconfined compressive strength (UCS) --- California bearing ratio (CBR) --- scanning electron microscopy (SEM) --- bio-based polyurethanes --- jatropha oil --- algae oil --- recovered palm oil --- epoxy composite --- green composite --- corn cob --- polycarbonates --- transesterification --- polycondensation --- polymer --- hydrogen --- hydrophobic --- sensing --- nanostructures --- palladium --- polymer composite --- fibre-prestressing --- residual stresses --- PCL–SBA-15 nanocomposites --- real-time variable-temperature synchrotron measurements --- confinement --- mechanical behavior --- nanoclay --- nanocomposites --- mechanical properties --- impact properties --- hardness --- polymer composites --- graphene quantum dots --- bioactive --- biomedical --- synthesis --- PVK --- hexylthiophene --- PANI --- nanocomposite --- photovoltaic cells --- DFT --- polyhydroxyalkanoates --- fibers --- biodegradability --- packaging --- patents --- poly(aminopropyl/phenyl)silsesquioxane --- thiol-ene --- kinetics --- activation energy --- polymer characterization --- viscoelasticity --- DMA --- solution blow spinning --- polyethylene oxide --- morphology --- materials characterization --- polymer dissolution --- kaolin flocculation --- aggregate resistance --- salinity --- flocculation kinetic --- shear rate --- thermoplastic starch --- silane --- foam --- carbon dioxide --- microcapsules --- dip coating --- encapsulation --- spectroscopy --- microscopy --- antibacterial silver --- polyaniline --- dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid --- γ-Al2O3 --- in situ polymerization --- core–shell nanocomposite --- polyphosphazene --- micro-nanospheres --- species-absorbing mechanisms --- hydrophobicity --- thermochemical --- PVDF --- alkali-grafting --- α-methyl styrene --- acrylonitrile --- proton exchange membrane --- block copolymers --- random copolymers --- catalytic membranes --- esterification --- isopropyl acetate --- bioinspired bottlebrush polymers --- aqueous boundary lubrication --- friction --- wear resistance --- supramolecular hydrogel --- acrylic acid --- maleic anhydride --- terpyridine --- coordination interaction --- thermoplastic polyurethanes --- surface free energy --- dithiol --- differential scanning calorimetry --- optical properties --- arsine --- ligands --- polypropylene --- catalyst --- degradation --- sol-gel process --- 3D network hybrid materials --- nanoparticles --- nanodispersity --- ionic liquids --- n/a --- structure-property relationship --- PCL-SBA-15 nanocomposites --- core-shell nanocomposite

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Natural polymers are already used for a variety of biomedical applications, including drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, biosensors, etc. However, they have also found other applications, for example, in the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry, as firefighting materials, water purification, etc. Different polysaccharide and protein-based systems have been developed. They each have their properties that render them useful for certain applications such as the water solubility of alginate, the thermo-sensitivity of chitosan, the abundance of cellulose and starch, or the cell adhesion and proliferation of gelatin and collagen. This Special Issue will explore the design, synthesis, processing, characterization, and applications of new functional natural-based polymers.

Research & information: general --- Biology, life sciences --- Biochemistry --- light conversion film --- cellulose acetate --- europium --- sensitization --- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy --- surface plasmon resonance --- thin film --- quantum dot --- 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol --- chitosan --- graphene oxide --- 3D printing --- carboxymethyl cellulose --- hydrogel --- lyophilization --- dissolution --- release model --- customization --- NO-donor --- topical release --- polymeric matrices --- microbial infections --- wound healing --- blood circulation --- semisynthetic polymers --- natural rubber --- rice husk ash --- alginate --- mechanical properties --- dielectric properties --- nanohydrogel --- food applications --- biopolymers --- polysaccharide --- neural network --- chicken feet --- sensorial quality --- food quality --- gelatine --- hyaluronic acid --- polyethylene oxide --- electrospinning --- nanofibers --- wound dressings --- pectin --- pectinase --- wheat bran --- banana peel --- Bacillus amyloliquefaciens --- prebiotics --- mucilage --- pectin polysaccharide --- Opuntia ficus-indica --- aloe vera --- acemannan --- Cactaceae --- Asphodelaceae --- porcine gastric mucin --- methacryloyl mucin --- double-cross-linked networks --- circular dichroism --- mechanical characterization --- date palm trunk mesh --- cellulose --- lignocellulosic waste --- alpha cellulose --- nanocellulose --- agro-byproduct --- Bacillus licheniformis --- bioconversion --- pomelo albedo --- sucrolytic --- lubricant --- tribology --- albumin deposition --- contact lens --- surface roughness --- bio-based polyurethanes --- prepolymers --- cellulose-derived polyol --- cellulose-citrate --- polyurethane composites --- poly(lactic acid) --- nanocomposites --- tannin --- lignin --- thermal degradation kinetics --- decomposition mechanism --- pyrolysis --- nanocomposite --- nanofertilizer --- slow release --- ammonia oxidase gene --- quantitative polymerase chain reaction --- microflora N cycle --- nutrient use efficiency --- soil N content --- aerogels --- cold plasma coating --- hydrophobization --- pore structure --- chitinous fishery wastes --- chitinase --- crab shells --- Paenibacillus --- N-acetyl-D-glucosamine --- phenol --- adhesive hydrogels --- nanomaterials --- surface modification --- latex --- lignocellulosic fibers --- conventional fillers --- CNC --- esterification reaction --- graft copolymerization --- hydrophobic modification --- flocculant --- crosslinking --- peptides --- glutaraldehyde --- specified risk materials --- laccase --- melanin --- decolorization --- natural mediators --- glycerol --- polymer electrolyte --- ionic conductivity --- biochemistry --- pH and rumen temperature --- protozoa --- zero valent iron --- nanoparticles --- ethylene glycol --- methylene blue --- polyhydroxyalkanoates --- poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate --- melt processing --- extrusion --- injection molding --- elongation at break --- crystallization --- DoE --- oil palm biomass waste --- anionic hydrogel --- swelling --- salt crosslinking agent --- CoNi nanocomposite --- cellulose paper --- antibacterial potential --- degradation --- annealing --- acetylation --- potato starch --- emulsion capacity --- FTIR --- Malva parviflora --- natural polymers --- physicochemical properties --- rheology --- birch wood --- pre-treatment --- process parameter --- lignocellulose --- 2-furaldehyde --- Komagataeibacter --- stretchable bacterial cellulose --- enhanced strain --- vitamin C --- collagen --- anisotropy --- electron irradiation --- tensile test --- activated carbon --- MnO2 --- Co NPs --- antibacterial activity --- hydrogels --- antimicrobial activities --- functionalized materials --- cellulose derivatives --- flexor tendon repair --- anti-inflammatory --- anti-adhesion --- antimicrobial --- polymer-based constructs --- biosorbent --- copper --- adsorption --- model studies --- aqueous medium --- biodegradable polymers --- chemical modification --- food packaging --- free radical polymerization --- superabsorbent --- water-retaining agent --- thermal properties --- Mimosa pudica mucilage --- extraction optimization --- Box-Behnken design --- response surface methodology --- pH-responsive on–off switching --- zero-order release --- antimicrobial activity --- bacterial cellulose --- cytotoxicity --- nisin --- stability